Why do so many Americans consider themselves more patriotic than most other Americans?

Thursday

Jul 4, 2013 at 5:15 PM

Independence Day is a perfect occasion to reflect on some of the more curious aspects of what we call American patriotism.

Most of us — 60 percent, according to a poll of a few years ago — consider ourselves just as patriotic as the next guy. But fully one-third of Americans say they are more patriotic than most other people. Forty-three percent of Republicans and 51 percent of self-described Tea Party types feel that way.

This sense of superior patriotism is also far more common among senior citizens than among younger folks. It’s also far more common among people who ...

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Pat Cunningham

Independence Day is a perfect occasion to reflect on some of the more curious aspects of what we call American patriotism.

Most of us — 60 percent, according to a poll of a few years ago — consider ourselves just as patriotic as the next guy. But fully one-third of Americans say they are more patriotic than most other people. Forty-three percent of Republicans and 51 percent of self-described Tea Party types feel that way.

This sense of superior patriotism is also far more common among senior citizens than among younger folks. It’s also far more common among people who ...